Landrieu tops Kennedy in fundraising

• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Advocate Washington bureau
• Published: Oct 17, 2008 - Page: 15A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has raised $9.5 million in campaign contributions for her re-election bid, according to Federal Election Commission reports released Thursday.

The Democrat collected $4 million more than her Republican opponent, state Treasurer John Kennedy.

Kennedy raised $5.2 million, including $262,153 during the last reporting period covering the three months ending Sept. 30.
Kennedy received big support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican National Committee, each contributing $17,500 during the period.

Landrieu collected $402,172 for the timeframe. The reports show she received major support from businesses, including $10,000 contributions from political action committees affiliated with General Motors, United Parcel Service, American Crystal Sugar and the American Chemistry Council.

Landrieu has $2.3 million left in her campaign war chest, almost twice the $1.2 million left in Kennedy’s, the reports show.

The Louisiana Senate campaign is the fifth most expensive U.S. Senate race in the nation in terms of money raised and spent, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics in Washington.

In Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District race, U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads, raised more than his Republican opponent, state Sen. William Cassidy, for the period but still trailed significantly in money available for the final weeks of the campaign.

Independent candidate and state Rep. Michael Jackson, of Baton Rouge, reported raising $12,550. Jackson has $20,216 available for the final weeks.

Cazayoux raised $223,412 for the recent three months. The incumbent, who won a special election in May to succeed former U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, has collected $832,525 since being elected to Congress, the report shows.

Cassidy raised $141,362 for the most recent period. The Baton Rouge physician has raised $685,525 since starting his campaign. Cassidy has $476,881 left going into the last weeks of the campaign, significantly more than the $124,000 available for Cazayoux.

Cassidy noted Thursday that 90 percent of his contributions came from within Louisiana and called Cazayoux the “special interest” candidate.

“As much as we raised in the district, we’re fighting a national campaign,” Cassidy said.

Cazayoux’s campaign said they are proud of his widespread support.